Fernando g



(No Model.)

F. G. LANE. CLOTHES LINE.

No. 497,248.. Patented May 9, 1893.

wi/in wom gWuM/tom Gimme/134 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERNANDO G. LANE, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-Tl-IIRDS TO JOHN NV. KELLY AND FRED STERZING, OF SAME PLACE.

CLOTH ES-LINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,248, dated May 9, 1893.

Application filed January 21, 1893. Serial No. 45 9,095. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERNANDO G. LANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Austin,in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Lines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in pinless clothes lines, and it relates particularly to improvements on the device covered by an application filed by me and John WV. Kelly on the 20th day of October, 1892, and serially numbered 44t9,480, and it has for its object to provideim proved means for connecting the Wire sections wherebythey will be held more nearly in horizontal alignment when erected and whereby the tension on the line will be prevented from increasing the pressure of the clamping loops, so that all the clamping loops on the line will exert the same degree of pressure, thereby enabling the articles to be readily attached and detached, irrespective of the length of the line, as will fully appear in the course of this specification.

In the drawingsPFigure l is a perspective view of one form of myline. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification thereof.

Referring to the various parts by letters,a designates the main portion of the section of my line, each of which sections consists preferably of a single" piece of spring wire of a suitable thickness bent upon itself, its ends meeting and forming a double wire section the strands of which are parallel and close together for a greater portion of their length. Clamping fingers are formed at the ends of each section by bending the doubled ends downwardly and inwardly to form the loops 1), each of said loops being formed with the spring arms or sides I)" and the looped end 11", said end bearing resiliently down on the upper side of the main portion of the section as clearly set forth in the application above referred to. The strands of wire which form each section are bent to form small loops or eyes 0 at the ends of the horizontal portion of each section, preferably at the point where the arms of the spring loops start to curve downwardly to form the spring-loop. These eyes or coils 0 may be formed by coiling the portions of the wire above the main portion of the section thereby forming them on the exterior of the spring-loops, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, or they may be formed by bending the wire as shown at c in Fig. 2, thereby forming said eyes below the main portion of the wire, and within the loops 1), as the exigencies of the case may require.

The adjacent sections of my improved line are loosely connected by means of closed rings or links at which pass through the eyes 0 on the ends of the adjoining sections of the line, these loose connections permitting them to be folded over upon each other when not in use. It will thus be seen that as the connecting links at will be retained in the eyes 0, and as said eyes are unyielding in a longitudinal direction, the line cannot sag or be stretched by the weight of the articles placed thereon, therefore the sections will be supported more nearly in straight line than would be the case if the connecting links were engaged loosely in the loops 1) as in the application above referred to. It will also be manifest that the spring arms of the loops 1) will be entirely relieved of the strain of supporting the line and the articles thereon (the eyes a and links 01 receiving said strain) and that therefore the pressure of the ends b of said loops against the main portion of the section will not be affected by said tension.

I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to the form of eyes a or the number of them shown, as their form and number may be varied as desired without departing from the scope of the invention. It will also be observed that forming the eyes 0 in the arms of the spring loops, in the manner shown, in-

creases the elasticity of the loops as said eyes act in the manner of coil-springs, and it will be further observed that by this manner of connecting the sections the connecting links or rings will be held in their proper places, whether the line be stretched or folded, whereby entangling of the sections will be prevented.

Having thus fully described my invent-ion, through said eyes, substantially as described what I claim is' and for the purpose set forth. [0

A pinless clothes-line formed of metallic In testimonywhereoflaffix my signaturein sections, each section being formed of spring presence of two Witnesses.

5 wire, bent to form the main portion and the FERNANDO G. LANE.

\ end clamping loops, eyes, carried by the main WVitn'esses: H

section at the ends thereof, and links for con- CHARLES D. DAVIS, necting the sections, said links passing FRED STERZING. 

